After reading Zulu
Pottery by Dr Elizabeth Perrill, Associate Professor of Art History and Print
Matters press at Greensboro (University of North Carolina), collector Richard
Levy expressed an interest in collecting the works of acclaimed KZN ceramic
artist, Nesta Nala.
During the same period, interviews with the Nala sisters
made it clear to Dr Perrill that the largest lament the Nala family has is that
they hold no work by their mother. Nesta Nala’s unexpected death in 2005 and
difficult financial times made it hard for the family to keep their mother’s
work. Upon hearing about this very human desire to have one’s parent’s art,
Levy was moved to donate three works back to Nesta Nala’s three practicing
ceramist daughters.
This event came together with Artisan Gallery and Ingrid
Lotter Smith undertaking to celebrate and document the return of the Nala
family’s cultural patrimony and family legacy.
At a special function created to commemorate this handover at
the Artisan Gallery in Durban, two ceramic pots by Nesta Nala (1940-2005) and
one by Zanele Nala (1979-2006) were given back to the three remaining daughters
of Nesta Nala: Thembile (Thembi), Jabulile (Jabu) and Bongiwe (Bongi).
This donation was made possible by Richard Levy of Greensboro,
North Carolina and facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Perrill (Univ. of North
Carolina at Greensboro, USA), Sue Greenberg (former Artisan Gallery owner), and
Ingrid Lotter Smith (current Artisan Gallery owner).
After many years of service to the South African ceramics
community through the Grassroots and Bayside Gallery as well as her launching
of the Artisan gallery, Sue Greenberg emigrated to Italy in 2012. For three
years a portion of her remaining Nala ceramics have remained in storage.
Thembi and Jabu Nala were in attendance to receive three
pots, two by their mother and one by their deceased sister Zanele
For more information contact Artisan Gallery on 031
312 4364. Contact Dr Perrill on email eperrill@gmail.com
Posts
